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Iran's 31st naval fleet foils pirate attacks on Iranian oil tank

The 31st naval fleet of Iran has repelled three pirate attacks against an Iranian oil tank on Sept. 4.

The successive attacks, made by twelve pirate boats started early this morning and continued for eight hours, the Navy's public relation department said, Iran's Fars news agency reported.

The incident took place in the Gulf of Aden. The pirates had to flee after Iranian naval forces took swift action to thwart their attacks.

The Gulf of Aden, which links the Indian Ocean with the Suez Canal and the Mediterranean Sea, is the quickest route for thousands of vessels traveling annually between Asia, Europe and the Americas. Iranian naval forces foiled four pirate attacks against Iranian ships in the region during the past week, the report said.

In recent years, Iran's Navy has been increasing its presence in international waters to protect naval routes and provide security for merchant vessels and tankers.

In line with international efforts to combat piracy, the Iranian Navy has also been conducting anti-piracy patrols in the Gulf of Aden since November 2008 to safeguard the vessels involved in maritime trade, especially the ships and oil tankers owned or leased by Iran.

The Iranian Navy has managed to foil several attacks on both Iranian and foreign tankers during its mission in international waters.

On February 13, Iran's Navy Commander Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari said the Islamic Republic's naval forces thwarted over 150 pirate attacks on Iranian merchant vessels and oil tankers in the past four years.